This is a list of cities in Malta. By the usual standards that most other countries use when designating a city, Malta's cities would be too small to be considered such, and in fact Malta is sometimes regarded as a single city-state.[1] Malta's cities are regarded as such because they received the designation of città at some point during their history. In Maltese law, no distinction is made between cities, towns, and villages; city status is purely honorary and colloquial. Malta is divided into 68 local councils. The local councils which formerly had city status all feature a mural crown on the crest of their coat of arms. The table shows the historical cities:
| Within current local council | Historical city | Year granted | class=unsortable style="width:200px;" | Image | Population (2014)[2] | class=unsortable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birgu | Città Vittoriosa(Victorious City) | 1530 | 2,629 | Capital city from 1530 to 1571, and one of the Three Cities. City status confirmed following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.[3] | |||
| Bormla | Città Cospicua(Conspicuous City) | 1722 | 5,395 | One of the Three Cities. City status granted in 1722 by Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari.[4] | |||
| Mdina | Città Notabile(Notable City) | 292 | Capital city from antiquity to 1530. | ||||
| Qormi | Città Pinto(Pinto's City) | 1743 | 16,779 | City status granted on 25 May 1743 by Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, following a request made by Don Giuseppe Vella.[5] | |||
| Rabat | Città Victoria(Victoria's City) | 1887 | 6,901 | Capital city of Gozo. City status granted on 10 June 1887 by Queen Victoria, following a petition made by Bishop Pietro Pace and Chief Justice Adrian Dingli on occasion of Victoria's Golden Jubilee.[6] | |||
| Senglea | Città Invicta(Invincible City) | 1565 | 2,784 | One of the Three Cities. City status granted following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.[7] | |||
| Siġġiewi | Città Ferdinand(Ferdinand's City) | 1797 | 8,367 | City status granted on 30 December 1797 by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, following a petition made by Don Salvatore Corso and the inhabitants.[8] | |||
| Valletta | Città Umilissima(Humblest City) | 1571 | 6,444 | Capital city since 18 March 1571.[9] | |||
| Żabbar | Città Hompesch(Hompesch's City) | 1797 | 15,404 | City status granted on 14 September 1797 by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, following a request made by Don Carlo Caruana and the inhabitants. In 1801, the Hompesch Gate was built to commemorate this event. | |||
| Żebbuġ | Città Rohan(Rohan's City) | 1777 | 11,903 | City status granted on 21 June 1777 by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc, following a petition made by the inhabitants. In 1798, the De Rohan Arch was built to commemorate this event.[10] | |||
| Żejtun | Città Beland(Beland's City) | 1797 | 11,508 | City status granted on 30 December 1797 by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, following a petition made by Don Giacomo Michele Tortella and the locals. He named it after his mother's maiden name. |